Giveaway and Review: A Beautiful Wooden Shuttle by David Reed Smith

One of the things I love about tatting is the feel of a beautiful shuttle in my hand, and the best wooden shuttles give me a warm, comforting feeling, as if the wood itself is confident it will take care of my thread. This shuttle by David Reed Smith is one of the finest wooden shuttles I have had the pleasure of handling.

It is handmade of white oak, and at 2.25″ long is a very comfortable fit in my hand. The tips come together very nicely on both ends to a satisfying ‘click’ ‘click’ sound.

David generously sent me a shuttle to play with myself, along with this one to give away. I’ve enjoyed tatting with it to see what it can do.

What surprised me most is that it is extremely light. The shuttle is about the same proportions as the plastic Clover brand shuttles, though just a little smaller, and remarkably even a little lighter than those cheap plastic ones.

Even though it is so light weight, it is no lightweight. This is a sturdy wooden shuttle that will stand up to years of use.

I appreciate that David has polished not only the outside, but the inside and post with a glaze so that it won’t catch and fray the thread. Speaking of thread, it can hold a generous eight yards of size 20 before bulging out at the sides.

The shuttle has a pick on one end, and I must say it has been very effective. I’ve been trying a new technique and so have had ample opportunity to take out stitches, yet didn’t pull out my regular pick once. However, with very small threads the pick might be too thick to accurately pick out single stitches.

David also makes tatting shuttles in cherry, holly, maple, walnut, purpleheart, tulipwood, and many more varieties of domestic and exotic woods. He can make them with or without spikes, or with a built-in brass spike.

As if this weren’t enough, David also makes tools for tatters including nifty pen-like retractable crochet hooks, and picks that reverse into a cap. He has a beautiful needle case, and a nifty combination magnifying glass and crochet hook. Most of these can be put on a necklace for easy access, and can be made in a variety of woods.

Buy your own! Take a look at David’s skilfully made shuttles and tools, and pick out a matching set. At a very reasonable $17 to $26 for a shuttle (depending on size and features) and only $15 to $30 for the different tools, these are priced so you can treat yourself even on a modest budget.

Win it! For your own chance to win this beautiful handmade white oak tatting shuttle, leave a comment below to enter. The contest is open worldwide.

Here is how you can win:

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. Visit David Reed Smith’s site and browse his shuttles and tatting accessories. Leave a comment here about what type of wood, style of shuttle or tool you would enjoy. You must leave a valid email address so I can contact you if you win. It won’t be visible to anyone but me if you enter it into the comment form.

What beautiful shuttles! I have always loved the look of cherry wood, so would definitely choose his birdseye cherry shuttle. I have never entered a blog giveaway, but the shuttle is too beautiful to pass up the chance.

Thank you for all of the work that you have done on the Absolute Beginner’s Series, you have done a fantastic job of the tutorials and I am having a lot of fun practicing your lessons.

I have to admit I have been drooling over these shuttles for months! Maybe even obsessing a little. I’ve even had dreams Where I am tatting using one of his 3″ purple heartwood shuttles with a brass tip and matching tools. I plan on buying a set for my one year “tativersary” at the end of October. I figure then I’ve stuck with my new obsession for a year I deserve a treat!

David Reed Smith’s shuttles were the first ones I collected, and they are a joy to use! My favorite wood on his site is birdseye maple. I would love to win another of his wonderful shuttles! Thanks for making this opportunity available. Some lucky tatter is going to be in tat heaven!

I looked at the shuttles and saw a beautiful wood that I fell in love with…..
Tchitola…since I am new to shuttle tatting, I am not sure yet if I prefer shuttles with or without a pick…..but all of the shuttles look lovely.

I noticed he has needle cases but they are not long enough for needle tatters….wish it was.

Hi Louine! Have you ever seen the chocolate covered sunflower seeds(according to the label: mysunnyseeds.com)? They come in a long plastic case, like a really long (8″) tictac case. Looks perfect for tatting needles. At least, until you get a nice wood one. I meant to bring one with me to Palmettos but forgot.

Thank you for the lovely giveaway. I’ve only ever tatted with plastic shuttles, I’m interested in the wooden ones now. I’ve fallen in love with the tulipwood shuttle. Though all of them are beautiful. He is a talented artist. I’ll have to look his tools some more.

WOW! David has some absolutely beautiful shuttles!!! I love all the woods, but my favorite has to be the rosewood. I have a piano made of rosewood that I got when I was 7 years old. I have had it now for 44 years. I just love his crochet hooks with the tops on them! I am definitely gonna have to check into getting one. It is so nice of him to send you a shuttle to giveaway!
Blessings,
Diane

Hallo , never had the oportunity to tat with a wooden shuttle.So these look geaorgous to me, would love to win any to try them out! By the way the most favorite one for me is the maple one, looks so natural. I have no twitter accound for tatters, so I have to open one to twitter with you all. Good look to everyone here to win!

I love wood. Especially dark wood. I have been drooling over David Reed Smith’s shuttles since I heard of it. I just couldn’t decide which one to get. I like purpleheart, East Indian Rosewood, Tchitola, Koa, Kingwood, Goncalo Alves.

I recently found your excellent tutorials on YouTube and now just heard about your giveaway on In Tatters. I’ve heard so many lovely things about David Reed Smith shuttles, it would be wonderful to have the chance to own one. Thank you for doing the giveaway!

I d like to thank you for the chance to win, all shuttles are wonderful! My favorite is in the aukcion the flower and the butterfly. From the wood list I would like shuttles from Pommele Bubinga wood. I share this info about the giveaway in our lace group.

Wow! Thank you and David both for doing this. I’ve admired DRS shuttles for years, but so far have not been successful in convincing my DH to allow me to order one. Any wood is okay with me, although I really like the idea of the purple heart. But that’s just some romantic foolishness because of an association I have with Dragon Heart, so the wood doesn’t really matter. However, the size is very important. My hands are more comfortable handling one about the size of the classic Boye post shuttles, which are about the same size as the Sew Mates, only with a straight pick instead of curved.

I would love to win a Shuttle, I like the zebrawood.
I have enjoyed all the information you have given everyone.
Can’t believe that I can make simple rings and some picots!
Thank you for all the work you put into this site!

I have a holly wood shuttle made by Sally Kerson’s “I’m in the garage” and I love it! The feel of wood is wonderful for tatting and David Reed Smith’s shuttles look so beautiful. My favourites are probably the bird’s eye maple and the zebrawood- although the purpleheart is in the running too. Thanks for sharing the skills of talented shuttle-maker!

First, I’d like to thank you for a wonderful opportunity to win a wooden shuttle from David Reed Smith Shuttles. I’ve read many good things about them from other tatters. If I win I’d love a shuttle made from either lacewood or zebra wood. Both are gorgeous! I would love a retractable hook for the tatting tool… perfect!

I’m a fairly new tatter – started with bobbin shuttles this year and soon discovered that I like a post shuttle better. I have Clover and Lacis shuttles and find I like the Clover size shuttles the best.

I tweeted this… but I don’t know how to grab a copy of it to show you. I also just ‘followed’ TattedTreasures on Twitter immediately after posting. Do you need my username for Twitter to see the tweet or is there some way to forward it to your feed on twitter? (I’m not all that familiar with how Twitter works…)

I have been drooling over David Reed Smith shuttles and accessories since I started tatting 2 years ago!
I’m saving up to buy the Koa wood Dual Reversable Tool (either Koa or Birdseye Cherry. They are BOTH gorgeous. (unless someone gets it for my upcoming birthday…I turn 55 in Oct!!)
I would be honored to win a shuttle in either wood; or ANY wood…..I’m really not picky, but they said mention our preference.)
Thank you for offering us the change to win a workable piece of art!
Debbie Hart
Santa Maria, CA USA

I love all of David’s tatting equipment. I especially like the only thing I already have – a retractable hook. It is super because I can’t lose it while wearing it round my neck and because it is retractable it doesn’t catch on my jumpers. I would love to own any of his shuttles.

The shuttles are beautiful! I would have a hard time deciding between the Rosewood, the Tulip or even the lilac!! I could ask for these from Santa – never too early to start dropping hints!
But to win one – how special is that!
I haven’t been tatting very long, but I have long loved the craft. My grandmother was a tatter and I have some of her pieces which I treasure. My tatting is just the beginnings, but I enjoy working on it and it is so portable!!!

I visited Davids pages and.. all is great! Most I like tatting accessories, it is impossible buy something like this in our coutry. Necklace with a hook would solve my problems with using hook in the train – now I must tat with bobbin shuttle because of them (there are no other shuttles with hook in czech republic). And wooden shuttle – I must admit that I have never hold one. It must be great working with it.
Thanks for chance to win.

It’s beautiful! I absolutely LOVE working with handmade wooden shuttles.

Comment #1: After perusing David’s site, I have to say that the shuttle wood that stood out to me most was the Sycamore. It’s so pure and delicate looking. and For accessories? I loved the little Needle Case with Threader.

There are just too many choices at his website. The shuttles are lovely, I particularly like the sapelle wood although I have always liked walnut. Thank you for the opportunity to win such a beautiful shuttle. I am sure they are a joy to tat with.

I’m not sure which one I like best. I’m finding it very difficult to chose just one. I’m partial to the cherry because my Jensen spinning wheel is made out of cherry and I like the bird’s eye maple because my grandfather made me a jewelry box out of the wood. I also like the colors of the Koa and the Tulipwood. Too many choices!

Oooo.. I have loved David Reed Smiths shuttles for soooo long but, have yet to own one. I love the rosewood and purple heart best and want one with a spike at the end. I would love to get the needle case and magnifying glass to match some day. Oh and I might just as well add to my wish list one of the crochet hooks too. LOL Please enter me in the give away and I will be posting this on my blog and also on face book.

These shuttles are gorgeous, I would love to have one to tat with!!! I think I like the walnut the best, with the brass tip…and maybe a little bigger, I would like something that holds a bit more thread than my clovers for some projects. If I had the chance, of course, I would have one in every wood and style 🙂

I have been looking David Reed Smith shuttles for a while. I want a lacewood in one of the bigger sizes. . . And one of the crochet hooks too. Would love to win this one so I could try it before I buy my own.

I love the sycamore shuttle and the cherry shuttle. It would be really cool just to own one of them. Especially since I only have one shuttle right now, so I can try. And I have a new website to shop off of as well.

Of course, I couldn’t help myself and wandered over to the drop spindle section and found a goregous Susan drop spindle.

David’s shuttles were the first special shuttles I purchased after I learned to tat. Mine have the wood spike, and because I use the pic alot, I’m afraid to use them for fear of damaging the spike ….. So I often look at his page, and wish for one of the brass spike tip ones, and because our daughter’s name is Holly, I always think I’d get it in holly-wood.

The zebrawood is my favorite because my first shuttle was zebrawood. And with a pick – I guess I will have to buy both a brass and wood pick to see which I really like the best. Thanks so much for give away

I just started tatting as a new craft to add to my growing list of crafts that I do. David’s shuttles are wonderful, I would love to have one. I would also love to learn how to make shutttles myself as I love working with wood. Maybe some day, but for now its a daydream…. Lisa

I’ve always just used Clover shuttles and recently started to use some Bakelite and Bone shuttles. I’ve never tried using Wooden ones.
All the shuttles by David Reed Smith looks lovely. To win any one would be a dream!

after years of drooling over tatting and missing several opportunities to learn from friends, I’ve decided it’s time to learn. Beautiful tools help with any craft and this shuttle is gorgeous. I doubt I could live up to it but the challenge would be fun

how beautiful! I adore the variety of looks the different woods give off. The Rosewood is gorgeous. When we lived in the islands curly mango was one of my favorite woods. Off to oogle more at his site. Sorry, not a tweeter or i would!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥hello good day … I love all the tatting shuttle, especially the East Indian Rosewood.
this really is unbeatable seafront oprotunidad to see these wonderful creations. and more wood. one of the most beautiful materials of this earth .. I hope it does not bother you. but I have many friends whom I have communicated this to your twee and made a video. to publish these beautiful tatting.♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

I love the purpleheart. I am a purple fan and even my hair is purple. My grandmother taught me to tat over 40 years ago and this would make a wonderful addition to my tatting life. Thanks for a great give-away.

Hi Thank you for this give-away! I would love the East Indian Rosewood shuttle, it looks so pretty, I just moved to a new home that has red hardwood floors throughout and this would match them perfectly!

Beautiful! I just got into tatting about a year ago, and the more I explore, the more I realize it’s a thriving art! These shuttles are beautiful. I really like the simplicity of the Sycamore, but I think, for my dad, I’d get a Purple Heart. Honestly, any one of them would be a pleasure to own. And, you’re right, they’re quite affordable. I think I know what to put on my birthday wish list! Now if I can just master that ‘click’ ‘click’ rhythm.

Ah, David Reed Smith shuttles are so beautiful! I would love the chance to win this one. I’m kind of taken by cherry and walnut, but can one choose just one wood? No, one cannot. Eventually I hope to build a collection, because wood is definitely my favorite shuttle material.

Oh, I have found a new love. I have been studying this website and am really intrigued with tatting. I really love the cherry wood. I have done many things but have never thought about tatting until now and have looked at the tutorials and would love to start.

The shuttle is beautiful and I would love to win one. The crochet hooks are also beautiful. I must share it with my friends at the center I’m sure they’ve never seen anything like it. I is a beautiful work of art!

Your woodwork is beautiful! I would love to have the Cherry Tatting Tool. For some time I have wanted to learn to tat. This along with your tutorials for beginners will be a great help. Thank you for the opportunity to be included in this generous giveaway.

David has some remarkable shuttles. It is hard to choose between the white oak, the tulipwood, the rosewood and the cherry. I would be glad to have any one of them…but I would prefer to have them all, lol. I will have to point these out to my daughter as potential Christmas gifts,

How can I choose ONE wood! I love them all. He can just pick one for me and mail it to me.

I think his sense of humor is way too close to mine. Perhaps we are twins and neither of our sets of birth wanted to tell us since they kept us!

Since I tat a lot of beads, may finish a project one day, it would be nice to have a shuttle that will not let the beads slide off onto the thread until you want them! I love Nina Lieben’s work but the tiny beads can drive you crazy(er).

His web page is a little out of date as his last update was on “9/1311”. Apprently, he is ahead of his time when he did that OR is time travel possible?

I would love to see a ring untatted. Opening a closed ring make brain surgery for the DIY look simple. This is very true on tiny thread. Even a magnafying glass does not help me. I have tatted for seven years and plan to finish a project one day.

As for the shuttle, I have alread done a comment so it is OK to not count this as an entry.